Lighting-fixture.



F. W. WAKEPIELD.

LIGHTING FIXTURE.

APPLICATION FILED FBB.2,'1914.

1,119,480, Patented Dec.1,1914.

WGW

SAS

FREDERICK W. WAKEFIELI), OF VERMILION, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 THE F. W'. WAISE- FIELI) BRASS COMPANY, 0F VERMILION, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OI-IIO.

Specification o1 Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 191%.

Application led February 2, 1914. Serial No. 815,859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK WV. WAKE- FIELD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Vermilion, county of Erie, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Lighting-Fixtures, of which the following' is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

The object of the present improvements is to provide a universally attachable canopy so constructed as to do away with the necessity for providing special insultation, as has heretofore been necessary in connection with fixtures employing canopies. By having the insulation self-contained in the canopy structure, its adequate character `can be tested before the fixture is in place; whereas under present methods of construction and erection it is very difficult, in the first place, to insure the thorough insulation of the canopy from the wall or ceiling, and in the second place, when the canopy is attached, the thoroughness of such insulation can only be tested by tearing it down again.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related objects, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully dei scribed and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail, certain mechanism embodying the invention, such dis closed means constituting, however, but several of the various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings :-Figure l is a vertical central section showing `my improved construction of canopy attached by means of a plate to an outlet box without a fixturelug; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of such outlet box and attached plate; Fig.` 3 is a section similar to Fig. 1, but showing the canopy attached by means of a plate to an outlet box with a fixture lug, said canopy being slightly modied in construction; and

Fig. Ll is a bottom plan view of the box and plate shown `in Fig. 3.

Referring first of all to the universal attaching means provided, it should be explained that the outlet boxes illustrated in the several figures of the drawing are of the construction quite generally used in this art, being simply stamped up sheet-metal boxes i of cylindrical form having one end open, the other end and the sides being provided with a plurality of openings 2 through any one of which the conduit (not shown) containing the wires for supplying current to the fixture may be introduced. rlhese holes 2 ordinarily are only partially stamped out so that only the particular one or ones for use need be opened, leaving the box other wise intact. These boxes are sometimes formed with inturncd ears 3 at their open ends, as shown in Figs. l `and 2, and again with a fixture lug le attached to the closed end, as shown in Figs. 3 and t, such lug being externally threaded to receive an internally threaded member on the fixture.

For use with my improved fixture, I pro vide an attaching plate 5, preferably of circular form and having a number of relatively large openings G stamped therein both for the sake of lightness and to permit the wires to pass from the outlet box to the fixture, proper. This plate 5 is provided around its periphery with a series of smaller threaded holes 7 whereby such fixture may be attached to the plate with suitable screws S. The plate is also provided with a pair of diametrically oppositely arranged slots 9 adapted to register with the inturned ears 3 on conduit boxes l of different sizes, so that where a box of this type is encountered the plate may be readily aflixed thereto by means of screws l0, as shown in Figs. l and 2. Other diametrically oppositely disposed holes 11 in the plate (such holes also being considerably smaller than holes G) permit of the attachment thereto of an internally threaded member 12 adapted to engage with a fixture lug of the type illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, where a box :is encountered fitted with such a lug instead of the ears 3. l propose that the plate shall 5 readily discarded, in the event that a boi; of

the other type is encountered, viz., that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. 1n addition to the holes already described, other holes 13 are provided which either along, or in conjunction, with such described holes, afford means for directly attaching the plate tothe wall or ceiling by passing screws or nails through such holes and into such wall or ceiling. lt will thus be seen, that, by reason of my improved construction of attaching plate, the latter may be secured either directly to the wall or ceiling, where no outlet box is used, or it may be attached with equal ease to either of the two prevailing types of outlet box.

0f the fixture proper, only the canopy is illustrated in the figures of the drawing, attention to such canopy being desired by reason of the feat-ure of self-contained insulation already referred to. The particular canopy illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 is arranged to have the lamp sockets 14 directly secured thereto, as shown, a plurality of apertures 15 being provided for this purpose, so that one or more lamps may be thus attached and in various arrangements. It will be understood, however, that a more elaborate fixture may be utilized such as a chain, or tubular extension, or the like, such more extended fixture being supported from the canopy.

The canopyis constructed of two principal members or parts of sheet metal, namely a base member 16 having an 1 outwardly turned fiange 17 adapted to be secured to the attaching plate by means of the screws 8 already referred to, and a body member 1S of inverted bell shape, to which the lamps 14, or else supports for the same, may be attached. These two portions 16 and 18, of the canopy are not directly secured together, a third member 19, consisting of an annular body or ring of insulating material, suoli as hard rubber, fiber or the like, being interposed. Such canopy portions and insulating member are secured together without the use of any transverse fastening means, such as rivets, screws, or the like, by forming the portions in question either with oppositely directed flanges 9,0 and, 21, respectively, as shown in Fig. 1, between which the insulation ring is locked, or else forming such canopy portions with oppositely directed beads 22 and 23, respectively, the insulation ring in an equivalent fashion, as shown in Fig. 3.

lt will be observed that the foregoing construction of canopy does away with the necessity for using insulation between the base that interlock withy portion of the canopy and the attaching plate, or between such base portion and the wall or ceiling, where no attaching plate is used. ln such prevailing` mode of insulating the canopy, the attaching screws must, of necessity, pass through the insulation and require thus to be insulated, in this way complicating the structure and affording a basis for objection on the part of lire underwriters, unless the fixture has been critically examined after installation.

My present construction does away en tirely with need for such inspection after the fixture is installed, and makes it possible for the manufacturer to insure that his product is free from danger on account of stray current escaping from the fixture to the building. At the same time, the universal attaching feature adds materially to the general utility and interchangeable character of the fixture.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed', provided the means stated by any of the follow ing claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

l therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. A lightingdixtu're canopy comprising a base provided with means for attaching it against a supporting surface; a body supported by the base and provided with means for supporting a fixture from the body; and a strip of insulating material interposed be tween the base and body.

2. A lighting-fixture canopy, comprising a base provided with'means for attaching it against a supporting;` surface;` a body provided with means for supporting a fixture therefrom; and a strip of insulating mate rial interposed between, and engaging, the base and body, whereby the base and body are secured together.

3. A lighting-fixture canopy, comprising a base provided with means for attaching it against a supportingV surface, and provided adjacent its lower edge with an inwardly projecting peripheral iiange'or bead; a body provided with means for supporting a fiX- ture therefrom, and provided at its upper edge with an outwardly projecting peripheral flange or bead; and a strip of insulating material interposed between the base and body and' engaging the flanges or beads, whereby the base and body are secured together.

1. A lighting-fixture canopy, comprising a base provided adjacent its upper edge with a plurality of apertures through which may extend elements attaching the base against a supporting surface, and provided adjacent its lower edge with an inwardly` projecting peripheral flange or bead; a body provided whereby the base and body are secured to- With an aperture through which may extend gether. f Wires and an element for attaching a fixture Signed by me this 30th day of January, to the body, and provided adjacent its upper 1914.

- edge with an outwardly projecting periph- FREDERICK W. WAKEFIELD.

eral flange or bead; and a strip of insulating Attested bymaterial interposed between the base and Gmo. MAPES, Jr., body and engaging the flanges or beads, GEO. A. KLAAR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents eaoh, by addressing the Commissioner of Patent Washington, D. C. 

